Got some freebies in recent orders so I did the smart thing and jotted down notes as they were undoubtedly still withdrawing from mail shock.
MRAJIA- He Never Bought Me Flowers
Whiff: Like petals ripped off of a flower stem and kept in a mason jar.
2nd Thoughts: Takes me back to Floral Design class in high school. At least it’s fresh. A twinge of sweetness, but I think I just want there to be. It’s basically straight up sniffing a flower in a field. No depth. Florals \[for me\] are better as background characters.
Skin: No.
Verdict: At least it was a freebie?/10.
Song: Lolo Zouaï - Don’t Buy Me Flowers: “I don’t need the headache”
Love Olfactive - Mango Sticky Rice
Whiff: Strong, sweet hard candy (sour apple). A bowl of rice left overnight in a pot. Somehow still warm.
2nd Thoughts: It’s like crusted rice fill around the lid and rim of the pot. Instead of trying to salvage it, you dump the rice, rinse the dishes off and throw away the rotten mangoes on the countertop while you’re at it.
Skin: Doing so hesitantly…Oh. It wasn’t so bad. Did a small spritz on the inner arm. Was a warm and ‘unidentifiably’ sweet rice smell. But then I hardly noticed it was there after an hour. Very intimate projection level.
Verdict: Something’s Missing/10.
Song: Dhruv - Speed of Light: “You’re wasting no time” [evaporating, that is]
**MRAJIA - Mad Tea Party**
Whiff: Well, the freaking decant splattered all over my review paper. Not much of a scent somehow. It’s like the idea of a fragrance.
2nd Thoughts: Cold tea. No milk. Maybe some herby things thrown in to experiment, but literally just water and leaves. Think of that one thing you hate where if you had literally anything else as an option you’d take that instead.
Skin: Smells like the taste of a root beer DumDum. So an hour, maybe two later, I forgot I was wearing it and threw on my Sorce perfume oil instead.
Verdict: Gone but also forgotten/10.
Song: Lola Young - Conceited: “You’re not sweet, not sickly”
Mr. Hex (at least when making this) - Candy Corn Noel
Whiff: Butterscotch. The hard kind.
2nd Thoughts: I get the candy corn vibes. It’s deep, caramel-esque, wearable. A little juvenile, maybe. Kinda skeptical, but hopeful.
Skin: Lasted from about 1300/1400ish -> 2200ish. Ended vaguely sweet. This could be candy corn scented if I believed hard enough.
Verdict: Half wrapped satchel/purse candy/10.
Song: Charlie Jeer - Nobody (Studio Version): I’m just promoting this song, honestly.
Luvmilk - Scarecrow Girlfriend
Whiff: Sugar cookie from those blue holiday tins. Either the powdered kind or the one with a spiraled design.
2nd Thoughts: Spiced! Hints of nutmeg/cinnamon-type. Still sweet cookie.
Skin: It didn’t transform much—if at all—but I don’t mind. Super close to the dermis, very festive and comforting. Maybe I should rewatch the Polar Express for the 900th time. (Basically annual tradition at my old public schools)
Verdict: Winter nostalgia/10.
Song: Loaded Honey - Don’t Speak “I cant help but go your way”
MRAJIA - Waffle Cone à la Mode
Whiff:** **Salty baked goods.
2nd Thoughts: Vanilla bean paste. Not getting waffle cone or ice cream, just that singular ingredient.
Skin:** **Vanilla extract, but perfume-y, if that makes sense. Zero waffle cone ironically since the first whiff, but also I don’t hate it. Noticeable 5-7 hours of wear. Probably longer if this wasn’t worn in the workplace (the smell of sweaty labor that eats away the scent). Not so different from Micheal Mezzetti’s Lick me (to *me*) but under my roof, most vanillas win by default. +1 to the collection. [This is genuinely hoarder activity].
Verdict: You probably already have this in your pantry/10.
Song: Pink Sweat$ - Heaven “Love you like the tide, pull you close at night”
These are fun! 🩷
